Zika virus: causes, symptoms, treatment, ways to prevent, etc.

Definition

What is the Zika virus?

Zika's disease is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, two types of mosquitoes that also transmit dengue fever and chikungunya.

Mosquito Aedes spreads the Zika virus by sucking the virus from an infected person, then transmitting it to healthy people.

Not everyone who is infected with this virus will experience symptoms immediately. However, some reported symptoms such as fever and joint pain. Usually, zika virus infection can heal on its own in a few days.

This viral infection was first identified in a herd of monkeys in Uganda in 1947. In humans, this virus was first discovered in 1954 in Nigeria. Even its appearance had plagued Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Even so, the majority of cases that occur are still small in scale and are not considered a major threat to human health. However, the spread of Zika began to threaten the global community since it broke out in the American continent, especially Brazil in 2015.

How common is this disease?

The Zika virus is common in tropical areas where mosquitoes are common Aedes aegypti and albopictus. This virus can attack anyone of all ages. However, pregnant women or anyone who lives or travels to areas where Zika infection is present has a high risk of becoming infected.

So can people who have sex with partners who are infected with Zika. Even so, this condition can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of the Zika virus?

In most cases people who are infected with this virus show no symptoms at all. In fact, according to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, only 1 in 5 infected people shows the characteristics of the Zika virus disease.

Although most people who experience the Zika virus don't feel any symptoms, here are the most common signs and symptoms of the Zika virus:

• Feel itchy in almost all parts of the body
• Fever
• Headache and dizziness
• Experiencing joint pain and swelling of the joints
• Muscle ache
• Eyes turn red
• Feeling pain in the back
• Pain in the back of the eye
• Red spots appear on the surface of the skin

Regarding the symptoms of the Zika virus, a number of health experts see that there are many similarities in symptoms between dengue fever and Zika fever. However, the thing that most distinguishes the symptoms of the Zika virus from dengue fever is that the fever that occurs due to this viral infection tends to be not too high, sometimes a maximum of only 38 degrees Celsius.

In most cases, people who contract Zika's disease make a complete recovery and symptoms improve on their own. A person infected with this virus will generally recover within 7 to 12 days.

Even so, in some more serious cases, this condition requires further treatment in the hospital because of neurological and autoimmune disorders in people infected with the Zika virus. If this happens, the doctor will carry out a further diagnosis by performing laboratory tests in the form of RT-PCR & antibody tests.

When should I see a doctor?

Check with your doctor if you or a family member shows the symptoms above, or has just returned from an area with an outbreak of the Zika virus. The sooner you respond to the symptoms you feel, the more serious complications will be minimized.

But remember, the symptoms of the Zika virus that have been mentioned above may not be the same as what you are experiencing. The reason is, each person's body may show different reactions.

Cause

What causes this disease?

Zika virus transmission generally occurs through mosquito bites Aedes who have been infected. This type of mosquito is active during the day and can live indoors or outdoors.

If it's a mosquito Aedes suck the blood of the person exposed to Zika, the mosquitoes can transmit Zika to the next person they suck blood on.

Apart from mosquito bites, recent research has shown that the Zika virus can be spread through sexual intercourse and blood transfusions. The Zika virus can also be transmitted from mother to baby through pregnancy.

Risk factors

Who is at risk for Zika disease?

The following are factors that increase your risk of contracting the Zika virus, namely:

1. Pregnant women

On the official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, it is stated that the greatest danger from this virus attack appears to pregnant women, because pregnant women who are positive for the virus are likely to transmit the virus to the fetus in their womb.

If the Zika virus attacks pregnant women, the result of this infection will have an impact on muscle tissue and nervous system damage, including the central nervous system in the brain of the fetus.

2. Unprotected sexual intercourse

Zika's disease can also be spread through sexual contact, usually after a person has traveled to an area where Zika is an epidemic. Zika can also be missed having sex, even though the infected person has no symptoms at the time.

The first case that proved that Zika can be transmitted through sex was in July 2016 in New York. At that time, United States health authorities reported that a woman passed the Zika virus to a man through unprotected sex.

3. Go to the infected area

Some of the cases that cause the Zika virus are linked to travel activities to areas that are currently infected. The CDC issues travel warnings regarding the Zika virus spread map.

For more information, you can refer to the CDC website for the latest developments in the Zika distribution area to watch out for.

If after you come back from a country and you start feeling sick due to the Zika virus symptoms mentioned above, be sure to tell the doctors and nurses about the purpose of your past trip.

Complications

What are the complications of Zika virus infection?

Although the disease can resolve on its own, there may also be long-term health complications in some patients.

In pregnant women, the result of Zika virus infection has the potential to cause birth defects in babies. Here are the possibilities:

• Microcephalus, a congenital fatal brain disorder
• Brain damage and reduced brain tissue
• Eye damage
• Joint problems and limited body movement
• Muscle problems

In rare cases, this virus is also known to cause Guillane-Bare syndrome, a syndrome characterized by serious disorders of the central nervous system.

Diagnosis and treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to diagnose this disease?

The first step in diagnosing the Zika virus is to provide your doctor with your medical and travel history, including personal information such as sexual activity that you have had with your partner.

Apart from the above examinations, the doctor will also perform additional tests to get a more accurate diagnosis:

• Blood test
  To confirm the diagnosis of the patient's symptoms, the doctor will recommend the patient to do a blood test. This blood test is done to detect viral nucleic acids, isolate the virus, and serological tests.

• Urine test
  Apart from doing blood tests, the doctor also allows to do urine and saliva tests on the third to fifth day while the symptoms are still ongoing.

How to treat Zika virus infection?

To date there is no specific treatment for the Zika virus. This is because at first the infection was considered not to be classified as severe and only a few cases were reported.

So, the current treatment is still focused on managing the symptoms that are felt. However, there are several things you can do if you are indicated to have symptoms of the Zika virus, namely:

• Meet fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
• Take pain relievers such as acetaminophen or paracetamol to relieve fever and headaches.
• Don't forget to always discuss with your doctor before you use additional medicines other than those mentioned above.
• Enough rest.
• Do not take aspirin and drugs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Other (NSAIDS) to reduce the risk of bleeding.

Until now, this disease cannot be prevented by vaccines. If you are infected with the Zika virus, avoid mosquito bites for the first week to minimize the chance of spreading the disease.

Prevention

How do you prevent being infected with the Zika virus?

Preventing mosquito bites is one of the first precautions that can help you avoid infection with the Zika virus. Even though it sounds simple, the facts on the ground are sometimes difficult to do. Some of the preventive steps that can be taken include:

• Stay in a closed and air-conditioned room to reduce risk factors, as the Zika-carrying mosquitoes are active throughout the day.
• Wear clothes that protect against mosquito bites, such as long sleeves, trousers, socks and shoes.
• Reduce mosquito breeding sites to reduce mosquito populations by doing 3M Plus (draining and closing water reservoirs, as well as utilizing or recycling used goods) plus sowing larvicide powder.
• Using a mosquito net while sleeping.
• Also use mosquito nets on baby cots, prams, and carriers or other baby carriers.
• Using mosquito repellent or lotion mosquito repellent. However, avoid using mosquito repellent lotion on babies under two months of age. So you have to make sure that baby clothes can protect them from mosquito bites.
• Choose treatments, washing, or wearing clothes and equipment that use materials with permethrin content. Don't forget to first learn about product information and instructions for use regarding the protection provided. Also, make sure not to use the product on the skin area.
• Supervising larvae through the One House One Juruic Larva Movement (Jumantik) program
• Increase endurance through clean and healthy living habits (PHBS) such as regular exercise, adequate nutritional intake, and so on.
• Pregnant women are expected to be more careful and consult their doctor first if they want to travel to places that are included in the list of countries affected by the Zika outbreak.
• If you are planning to travel abroad, learn information about the areas you will visit, such as health facilities and outdoor areas before the time of departure, particularly areas affected by the Zika virus.
• Immediately do a laboratory test on your return from a trip to one of the countries mentioned above, especially for pregnant women.